419 scam: ASSISTANCE/INVESTMENT <marcussskemas@gmail.com> YOUR REPLY DEAR SIR/MADAM*

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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

The so-called "419" scam is a type of fraud dominated by criminals from Nigeria and other countries in Africa. Victims of the scam are promised a large amount of money, such as a lottery prize, inheritance, money sitting in some bank account, etc.

Victims never receive this non-existent fortune but are tricked into sending their money to the criminals, who remain anonymous. They hide their real identity and location by using fake names and fake postal addresses as well as communicating via anonymous free email accounts and mobile phones.

Keep in mind that scammers DO NOT use their real names when defrauding people.
The criminals either abuse names of real people or companies or invent names or addresses.
Any real people or companies mentioned below have NO CONNECTION to the scammers!

Read more about such scams here or in our 419 FAQ. Use the Scam-O-Matic to verify suspect emails.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

This email uses a separate reply address that is different from the sender address. Spammers use this to get replies even when the original spam sending accounts have been shut down. Also, sometimes the sender addresses are legitimate looking but fake and only the reply address is actually an email account controlled by the scammers.
The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
- "urgent assistance" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "but i feel quite safe dealing with you" (almost true for the criminal trying to scam you - arrests of online criminals are rare)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- +2348051211552 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: ASSISTANCE/INVESTMENT <marcussskemas@gmail.com>
Reply-To: marcuskemas@qq.com
Date: Fri, 22 Aug 2014 12:19:58 +0000
Subject: YOUR REPLY DEAR SIR/MADAM*

--
DEAR SIR/MADAM

Kindly inform me if you are interested in a joint partnership venture of
US$150m with you or your company for a long time period in your country. I
am writing to solicit your urgent assistance in the noble transaction that
will be designated in your country.

I apologize if the contents in this mail are contrary to your moral ethics
which I feel may be of great disturbance to you personally, but I feel
quite safe dealing with you. Though this medium (Internet) has been greatly
abused as I choose to reach you through it because it remains the fastest,
surest and most secured medium of communication. However, this
correspondence is purely private, and it should be treated as such. I am
contacting you based on Trust and confidentiality I have reposed to your
higher confidence

Areas of Investment interest are REAL ESTATE, AGRICULTURE and HOTEL etc.
If this is acceptable, send your response with your full personal details
for more details and follow-up process.

I will await your message.

Yours faithfully,
MARCUS KEMAS
+234-805-121-1552

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam